Mark L. Wardlaw, owner of B.N.V. Remodeling Company, agreed to give me an estimate on redoing my kitchen. He came on a Saturday and he told me that by the following Wednesday, he would e-mail the estimate. There was every indication from what he said while at my home that he would: Yes, he did jobs that involved gutting the present kitchen. He would not remove the ceiling; he could patch the plaster. He had a cabinet contractor with whom he would put me in touch. He went into so much detail as to ask me if I wanted to keep the items in a particular cupboard. He even volunteered to build me a temporary, minimal kitchen to use while he renovated. The visit was on November 5, 2016. Today is January 6, 2017. Two months later I have not received the promised estimate. Trouble is, when you say all those things, prospective customers tend to believe you are sincere.

Firm's Response: I met with owner but was unable to provide an estimate due to not being able to measure the inside dimensions of the kitchen or see clearly around the room. This was due to numerous boxes/ debris/ broken appliances being in the way. I discussed with her having a company come in to remove these items then calling me back so I could properly measure the room/ scope the work. She didn't have email and I never heard back from her.

...and 1 more consumer comments for BNV Remodeling

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Contractors: Remodelers & General Articles

Start by carefully considering what you think you want. Then weigh your wish list against what you’ll probably pay to fulfill it. Identifying goals and thinking through available options will force some decisions—and also help you set a budget cap.

If you’re adding new rooms, making substantial changes to the existing floor plan, or dealing with complex structural or functional questions, you’ll need to hire professional design help. There are several design options and combinations of options.

Though some homeowners leave the vetting and selection of contractors to their architects or house designers, most make the call themselves—and rightly so. Hiring a contractor who can successfully build what you’re planning, at a favorable price, is the most important step in any remodeling project.

Make a list of several companies that seem suitable for your project; then get in touch and schedule in-home consultations. Your objective is to compile a list of at least three companies, but preferably five or more, that will give you proposals and pricing.

Checkbook’s undercover shoppers asked contractors to bid on four different projects. Company-to-company price differences were striking. For the largest of the jobs, quotes ranged from $173,000 to $302,000—a difference of nearly $130,000.

Once you’ve picked a contractor, have it prepare a written contract. It should include the following information for medium-sized and major projects; but even if your project is small, many of these points also apply.

You can use our advice and price ratings to pay less—often a lot less—for appliances, fixtures, flooring, plantings, and many other products that you can buy on your own, rather than having your contractor buy them for you. But should you?

You have several options to pay for your project. Cash certainly is the easiest: no applications, no forms, no appraisals, no debt, no interest. However, many homeowners borrow to cover large remodeling jobs.